天下為公

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See also: 天下为公

Chinese

under heaven; the world; everything under the sky
under heaven; the world; everything under the sky; all under heaven
 
because of; for; to
because of; for; to; act as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to become
 
just; honourable; public
just; honourable; public; common; fair; duke; mister
 
trad. (天下為公/天下爲公) 天下 /
simp. (天下为公) 天下
天下為公

Etymology

From the Book of Rites, Book 9 (《禮記·禮運》):

大道天下為公選賢與能使 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
大道天下为公选贤与能使 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dàdào zhī xíng yě, tiānxià wéi gōng. Xuǎn xián yǔ néng, jiǎng xìn xiū mù, gù rén bù dú qīn qí qīn, bù dú zǐ qí zǐ, shǐ lǎo yǒu suǒ zhōng, zhuàng yǒu suǒ yòng, yòu yǒu suǒ zhǎng, jīn guǎ gū dú fèi jí zhě, jiē yǒu suǒ yǎng.
When the Grand course was pursued, a public and common spirit ruled all under the sky; they chose men of talents, virtue, and ability; their words were sincere, and what they cultivated was harmony. Thus men did not love their parents only, nor treat as children only their own sons. A competent provision was secured for the aged till their death, employment for the able-bodied, and the means of growing up to the young. They showed kindness and compassion to widows, orphans, childless men, and those who were disabled by disease, so that they were all sufficiently maintained.

Pronunciation


Idiom

天下為公

  1. the world belongs to the people; a public and common spirit rules all under the sky; the whole world as one community